An agency commission in Dubai buys marketing, qualified viewings, negotiation and the paperwork through to transfer. The market norm is 2 percent of the sale price plus VAT on a sale, and 5 percent of the annual rent on a letting.
Neither figure is set by law. Both are conventions, which means both are negotiable, and it also means the service behind them varies considerably between agencies.
| Included | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Valuation and pricing advice | The asking price decides whether you sell in weeks or months |
| Photography and listing copy | Portal traffic is won or lost on the first image |
| Portal placement | Where most Dubai buyers and tenants actually look |
| Qualifying enquiries | Filtering the browsers from the funded buyers |
| Viewings | Someone has to be there, repeatedly |
| Negotiation | An agent between the parties makes price conversations easier |
| Paperwork to transfer | Forms, the developer NOC, and the trustee appointment |
On a sale it is normally the buyer, which catches out sellers used to other markets. On a letting the landlord normally pays. Whatever the convention, put it in writing before the property is marketed, because a disagreement about it after an offer is accepted is a poor time to discover the assumption was not shared.
On a high value property, often. The honest question is what leaves the service when the fee comes down. If professional photography, portal prominence or viewing cover disappear, a lower percentage of a lower price is not a saving.
Commission is one line among several. Our guide to Dubai Land Department fees sets out the transfer costs, and service charges covers the annual owner cost people forget when they work out a net figure.
We will tell you what your property should realistically achieve before you commit to anything. See the selling process, what management covers, or list your property with us.
Market conventions current as of August 2026. Commission is a matter of agreement between you and your agency, so confirm the figure and what it includes in writing.
Add a line on how agents are paid: See how to become a real estate agent in Dubai.
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Have a question about this guide? Ask one of our agents on WhatsApp.
Have a question about this guide? Ask one of our agents on WhatsApp.
The market norm is 2 percent of the sale price plus VAT on a sale, and 5 percent of the annual rent on a letting. Both are conventions rather than regulated rates, so they are negotiable.
On a sale in Dubai it is usually the buyer who pays the agency commission, which surprises sellers arriving from other markets. On a letting the landlord normally pays.
Yes, and on a high value property it is common. Be clear about what drops out of the service if the fee drops, particularly photography, portal placement and viewing cover.
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TRPE Real Estate is a company registered in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Trade License No. 999314 · RERA ORN 28357 · Office 1201, Ascott Park Place, Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai. Regulated by the Real Estate Regulatory Agency (RERA).
